The Mike Hosking Breakfast

We can start planning a trip to Melbourne for next year’s Australian Open. But there's doubt over whether Novak Djokovic will be welcome. The nine-time champ is subject to a three year ban after being deported for not being vaccinated against Covid-19, meaning he'll have to apply for an exemption from the Commonwealth. Tennis commentator Craig Gabriel joined Mike Hosking out of Sydney. LISTEN ABOV...

The Reserve Bank’s dual mandate has received a frosty reception, after it completed the first stage of public consultation on its monetary policy remit. Most submitters believed inflation should have a bigger focus over the maximum sustainable employment, or the objective should be removed altogether. Business NZ was one of the submitters and CEO Kirk Hope joined Mike Hosking. LISTEN ABOVE See omn...

A positive sign has come from one of our largest tourism companies.  Tourism Holdings has significantly raised its full year profit guidance on the back of a stronger than expected tourism rebound. CEO Grant Webster joined Mike Hosking. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The skilled migrant visa, which was paused during the height of Covid, will reopen along with the parents category from mid-next month. In order to be selected, a person must reach a 160 point threshold that will be increased to 180 points at some stage. Katy Armstrong, owner and principal consultant at NZ Immigration, joined Mike Hosking. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy infor...

The Police Minister is open to changing the law to let officers gather young people's photographs and fingerprints, if given voluntarily. Chris Hipkins is suggesting legislative change could be necessary to combat police restrictions spawned by a recent inquiry into illegal practices. He's still waiting for advice, but believes the findings should be challenged, given the restrictions it's led to,...

The Commerce Commission is looking into how consumers can get a better deal on mobile and broadband. It's seeking feedback on proposals focused on making offers, costs, contracts and coverage more readily comparable between competing mobile companies. The consultation is part of the commission’s wider drive to improve retail service quality of the telecommunications sector. Telecommunications Foru...

MPs Megan Woods and Mark Mitchell joined the Mike Hosking Breakfast to wrap the week's political news. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We have the sort of logic only the Prime Minister can use when she largely isn't on top of the subject she is talking about. She tells us that farmers will benefit by leading the world once the Government's new "tax farmers more to save the world” scheme gets under way. Small news flash, we already lead the world. It’s been a good trick. You create the problem, in this case farming emissions. You...

Contact Energy is putting the increase in customers' energy bills down to rising input costs across the board. Gas and electricity bills are expected to go up by an average of 11 percent from next month, with Genesis also doing the same. More than 200,000 Contact customers will be paying around eight percent more for their electricity bills. Chief Executive Mike Fuge told Mike Hosking the increase...

The Government's farming emissions proposal is proving to be divisive. Yesterday's announcement adopted many recommendations from the industry-led He Waka Eke Noa report. It includes farmers paying for their own emissions from 2025, keeping the agriculture sector outside the Emission's Trading Scheme. National Party Agriculture Spokesperson, Barbara Kuriger told Gold Sport the Government's taken t...

The Government has announced yet more sanctions against Russia, targeting 51 Russian oligarchs - including Alexander Abramov - and 24 Russian-backed office holders. There are also new bans on exports and imports of luxury goods like New Zealand wine and seafood and Russian vodka and caviar. Waikato University international law expert Alexander Gillespie told Mike Hosking it's a measure worth takin...

Farming organisations are hitting back at Groundswell after the controversial group slagged them off. Groundswell has called for the resignation of the chairs of both Beef+Lamb and DairyNZ, saying they haven't been tough enough on the Government's emission pricing scheme. Beef + Lamb Chairman Andrew Morrison says his group would prefer no pricing, but says the Government's made it clear at least s...

The labour shortage is reaching boiling point for the hospitality industry. A new Restaurant Association survey's found eight in 10 restaurant businesses are understaffed. It comes after the Government recently announced the qualification requirement to hire migrant chefs would be dropped. Restaurant Association President Mike Egan told Mike Hosking that was a good move, but more needs to be done....

Lufthansa has told passengers to turn off tracking devices in their luggage after deeming them as "dangerous goods." Passengers flying with the German airline have been told to remove batteries from trackers like Apple AirTags prior to flying according to the local publication WirtschaftsWoche. This happens at a time when more travellers than ever are using tracking devices to prevent their luggag...

Matt Ford and Jack Steele are a couple of Aaussie lads that have made the most of social media. Up until 2019 they were self-confessed "directionless tradies." That was until they started The Inspired Unemployed social media group, which became an absolute sensation. So much so - it's become a full time job for them both - and has linked them up with the likes of GQ, Red Bull, Louis Vuitton and Vo...

If you ever want the perfect example of why this country is in the state it’s in, look at last week's announcement on rail. Auckland rail is largely out of commission for the next several years. A main form of public transport is up for enormous amounts of disruption. It varies from line to line. And even if you believe the timeframe around the work, which you shouldn’t, it'll be 2026 before it's...

Kiwifruit marketer Zespri will halt SunGold kiwifruit trials on the West Coast of the United States, citing a lack of commercial quality confidence and ongoing climate concerns. It comes on the back of quality issues with the fruit here in New Zealand. Chief Grower, Industry and Sustainability officer Carol Ward joined Mike Hosking. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Manawatū 's mayor says Three Waters isn't the answer to the country's water woes. A significant number of newly elected mayors and councillors are against the controversial water reforms currently going through select committee. Helen Worboys told Mike Hosking they do want reform, but don't want assets taken off them. She says they need sector regulation, funding and the Government to put in some...

The MP for Southland says the region has been dealing with a healthcare staffing shortage for a long time. It comes as a cancer care advocate claims Invercargill's Southland Hospital is on the brink of collapse due to ongoing staffing shortages. It’s believed the hospital's Paediatric Assessment Unit has been closed for three weeks now - and is not likely to open for at least three more. National...

Worries for farmers about a pending announcement from the Government. Newstalk ZB understands the Government will this morning announce its response to the He Waka Eke Noa report, which proposes an industry-wide emissions pricing scheme. It's likely to accept key recommendations, which would include farmers calculating and paying for their own emissions from 2025. Southland Federated Farmers Vice...

A war of words between National and Act - over whether there should be a referendum on co-governance. Act wants to scrap measures that share decision-making with Māori - and is making the referendum a bottom-line in any coalition negotiations after next year's election. National leader Christopher Luxon told Kate Hawkesby the party opposes Three Waters but there doesn't need to be a referendum. Bu...

One-term councillor Phil Mauger has scored the top position as the new mayor of Christchurch. He will be joined by seven new councillors and nine returning councillors. Mauger told Mike Hosking he wants to get the brand new council together to get things done. He says he'd like to do two terms, as it's hard to get much done in one. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The number of vaping shops is shooting up. We now have 956, that's up from the 666 we had in February this year. The Asthma and Respiratory Foundation says some of these are being placed inside existing convenience stores. Chief Executive Letitia Harding says the increase is not a good sign. She says we need to curb the number of stores and reduce the nicotine content in the products. LISTEN ABOVE...

The qualification requirement needed by migrant chefs to be hired by employers under an immigration accreditation scheme has been removed as a way to support hospitality, Immigration Minister Michael Wood has announced. Wood confirmed also that exemption to the median wage threshold has also been extended for another year to support the wider tourism and hospitality sector. The change comes after...

The Restaurant Association is welcoming the Government’s announcement on the skilled migrant chefs criteria, but says more needs to be done. Immigration Minister Michael Wood announced yesterday that the Government has dropped the qualification requirement for chefs hired under the accredited employer work visa program. Restaurant Association CEO Marisa Bidois told Mike Hosking they were turning a...